Most RV friendly Cities and States
What cities and states do you think are the most RV friendly? Watching this video - https://youtu.be/4X9dN7W7OWI - made me think of the idea for this thread. If I would have to guess I would say...
Forum Discussion
What would make a city RV friendly or unfriendly? Big metro areas are all unfriendly if you want to park on the streets. No city is going to be an easy drive if you are using a 45 coach towing a car hauler as your sightseeing vehicle. LA, Boston, NYC, Washington, Atlanta and a host of other cities are hell on earth when you try to drive them in a car. Parking a Smart car in Manhattan (NYC, not Kansas) is expensive at best and next to impossible for people not familiar with the area. I am sure you would be welcomed with open arms in Mentone, TX (county seat of Loving County, the least populated county in the US). But why would anyone visit a place where no one wants to live?
Visit any tourist town and the locals will tell you they have a love/hate relationship with tourists. RVers would be included in that demographic.
And, like it or not, there is only so much any city can do to roll out the welcome wagon and not step on local businesses. They could offer free RV sites with full hookups, but that sure would put a dent in the business of the local RV parks. How would the local restaurants feel if that same town offered free breakfasts and dinners for tourists at their community centers? Would the local auto repair facilities welcome the county maintenance garage fixing tourists cars for free? Giving away one business'service to increase the business at another is robbing Peter to pay Paul at best. Who has the right to make the determination that a souvenir shop is more important than a RV Park?
As for states, again, what is the criteria. Montana has lots to offer visitors, but there are thousands of miles of gravel roads and roads the locals wish were good enough to be called graveled. These aren't very RV friendly, but they go to great places. Some of our roads have very steep grades, again, not very RV friendly, but the state doesn't have the budget to level the Rocky Mountains. And yes, some of our towns have ordinances against camping on the streets. You won't be allowed to just pull over and boondock in our national parks. Heck, there are several million acres of designated Wilderness Areas where ANY wheeled vehicle (bikes and unicycles included) are prohibited. That isn't very RV friendly at all.
Visit any tourist town and the locals will tell you they have a love/hate relationship with tourists. RVers would be included in that demographic.
And, like it or not, there is only so much any city can do to roll out the welcome wagon and not step on local businesses. They could offer free RV sites with full hookups, but that sure would put a dent in the business of the local RV parks. How would the local restaurants feel if that same town offered free breakfasts and dinners for tourists at their community centers? Would the local auto repair facilities welcome the county maintenance garage fixing tourists cars for free? Giving away one business'service to increase the business at another is robbing Peter to pay Paul at best. Who has the right to make the determination that a souvenir shop is more important than a RV Park?
As for states, again, what is the criteria. Montana has lots to offer visitors, but there are thousands of miles of gravel roads and roads the locals wish were good enough to be called graveled. These aren't very RV friendly, but they go to great places. Some of our roads have very steep grades, again, not very RV friendly, but the state doesn't have the budget to level the Rocky Mountains. And yes, some of our towns have ordinances against camping on the streets. You won't be allowed to just pull over and boondock in our national parks. Heck, there are several million acres of designated Wilderness Areas where ANY wheeled vehicle (bikes and unicycles included) are prohibited. That isn't very RV friendly at all.
